So out of touch, so soon

PETER Gutwein’s declaration that the public does not need to know about development proposals in national parks has received the deserved response from an outraged public. So soon after the media’s emphatic “right to know” campaign, Mr Gutwein has confirmed how out of touch this overconfident government has become, prepared to operate with a growing loss of transparency.

Transparency becomes even more imperative in such a small state where personal relationships between politicians and stakeholders are almost inevitable. Secrecy and lack of public consultation and scrutiny have the potential to breed corruption among those “in the know” and less likely to generate the best outcome for the public kept in the dark. Peter Gutwein’s undemocratic support of secrecy draws attention to the ridiculously small size of the ministry. The House of Assembly needs to be returned to 35 members, not only to share ministerial workload but to lessen the concentration of power with individual ministers. In Mr Gutwein’s case, he is first and foremost the Treasurer and should not have been granted a second key portfolio like Environment. It is hardly surprising his pronouncements suggest he is more likely to consider proposals in short-term dollar terms, with budget considerations and elections in mind at the expense of longer term environmental considerations like loss of priceless wilderness value.

Patrick Naughtin Sandy Bay